…And We’re Back

The blog seems to operating normally again. Mostly (more on that in a minute…)

The problem, in a nutshell, is that I’m a boob. There was a Movable Type configuration problem that was made about a year ago. I used the web hosts IP address to specify paths in the configuration file. Within the last couple of days, the web host changed the IP address of our server, thus requests to the blog’s resources were timing out. Many thanks to David P. at Movable Type for figuring this out and also to the kind folks at BlueHost for being tolerating my annoying phone calls. (Thanks Kyle! And also the guy who I just spoke to and whose name I completely forgot.)

However – there’s always a “however” – the DNS address change that the web host made takes up to 48 hours to complete. What this means is that for the next day or so (I am told), requests to see individual posts will be slightly delayed in appearing. (Oddly, the SF Signal main page appears as quick as ever.) When the posts do appear, you may comment to your heart’s content. Please bear with us as these changes are completed.

We now return to your regularly scheduled postings about Star Wars and supermodels…

Not sure that’s related. The cookie thing was working all year then broke about a month or two ago. It just started working last week. None of this coincides with the web host changes earlier this week.

Once again, I am a boob. The individual archive template had a hard-coded reference to the old IP address. That has been fixed and the pages have been rebuilt. Individual posts now load much more quickly.

TSP On This Day

Do you love time travel stories? Kevin J. Anderson has assembled a fantastic time travel story bundle. This story bundle will run through the 2nd week in April. Also, if you subscribe to their newsletter, you'll get a free copy of Lightspeed Issue 57. For those new to the idea, Story Bundle offers up a DRM-free set of eBooks for Continue Reading →

What defines military fantasy as a subgenre? Is it, as the post title suggests, a wizard wielding a fireball in one hand and a shotgun in the other, drawling "Do you feel lucky, punk?" Well...maybe in some versions of the world. In others, it may be more an army marching in rank, overseen by magician-generals, with dragons as air Continue Reading →

Today I'd like to look at three shows that aimed to create a roughly similar atmosphere, with varying levels of effectiveness. Serial Experiments Lain, Boogiepop Phantom, and Paranoia Agent all try to create a kind of creeping horror. Not jump scares, or sprays of gore, but a weird, oppressive feeling that keeps the watcher disoriented and in suspense. They Continue Reading →

Humble Bundle has got a new Post-Apocalyptic ebook bundle up for grabs and if you're not familiar with Humble Bundle, here's the scoop: You can pay what you want to get a great selection of DRM-free eBooks in multiple formats — and your contributions can be split to your liking between authors, charitable foundations, or the Humble Bundle crew. Continue Reading →

It's no secret I like George Mann's Newbury & Hobbes stories, so I'm thrilled to see that Amazon has the cover and synopsis of Mann's The Casebook of Newbury & Hobbes, a collection of short fiction featuring the pair of steampunk-era detectives. Here’s the official synopsis: